Take These Hands presents a series of newly commissioned work by Norwegian artist Stian Ådlandsvik. The exhibition includes fifteen collages developed from photographs belonging to the National Spinal Injuries Centre archive at Stoke Mandeville hospital, and a sculptural installation created from two wheelchairs. The work explores ideas of human mobility and fragility; forms of dependency for disabled and non-disabled people, and our bodily relationship to machinery and technological devices. The materials and objects used to create the works have been dismantled and reconstructed to establish new forms and functions.

The exhibition forms part of RELAY, Turning Point South East’s programme of free contemporary art events, exhibitions, and performances taking place around the South East of England in 2012. RELAY celebrates the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by taking sport, art and location as starting points for a series of artist commissions.

The National Spinal Injuries Centre archive is a collection of photographs and documents, which includes historic images of wards, physio and occupational therapy and medical conditions. It charts the history of the oldest, and one of the largest spinal injuries centres in the world, established by neurosurgeon Sir Ludwig Guttmann in 1944 at Stoke Mandeville hospital. Having revolutionised the treatment and life chances for those with spinal injuries, in 1948 Guttmann organised the ‘Stoke Mandeville Games’ to coincide with the start of the London Olympics, thus sparking the beginning of the Paralympic movement. The National Spinal Injuries Centre collection forms part of the Mandeville Legacy, which comprises the Wheelpower collection and that of the International Wheelchair Sports and Amputees Federation.

With support from Creative Campus Initiative, Take These Hands will tour to Bucks New University in High Wycombe in October 2012. The exhibition will be complemented by a short programme of talks and seminars exploring themes including prosthetics and the interactions of body and technology in visual culture. Creative Campus Initiative is a consortium of twelve southeast higher education partners working together to contribute exciting programmes and events for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

MK Gallery Project Space

Presents monthly exhibitions of contemporary visual art by individuals or groups based in Milton Keynes.